Expected to drop off in the first year of a new system after losing Alvin Jones to the NFL, the Miners plugged in graduate transfer AJ Hotchkins, got a monster senior year from Jumar Smith and ended up having one of the best years for an entire linebacker unit in recent UTEP history.

That makes the challenge this year a little different. While the bodies to replace are just as imposing, the bar is suddenly higher, and so is the confidence.

UTEP has every reason to believe it can put three solid players on the field and develop a competent two-deep, but how does it go about replacing the Conference USA-leading 126 tackles Hotchkins produced, and just as importantly, his leadership?

"You don't," coach Dana Dimel said. "Certain guys are pretty special, (Hotchkins) was pretty special because of his intensity. Now the guys need to learn from it. AJ came in and was such a leader, and Jumar Smith stepped up and did some surprising things for our football team.

"The bar has been set, the guys this year have that motivation."

The players who will get first crack to fill the void are a diverse group. Sione Tupou was forced into action last year as a freshman and started nine games through a productive year. Now he is expected to make that freshman to sophomore leap that could set him up for special things.

One reason he had to produce so quickly is that Jayson Van Hook, who missed almost all of 2017 to injury, missed 2018 to focus on academics. A freshman starter in 2016, he is back and playing at a high level.

Senior Kalaii Griffin is an outstanding athlete who is starting to turn that into production. Dylan Parsee was a starter last year before injury and now is working back, while John Jay Smith and DJ Turner are junior college transfers already challenging for spots in the two-deep.

Tennessee running back Ty Chandler (8) runs for yardage as he's chased by UTEP linebacker Sione Tupou (3) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn.(Photo: Wade Payne/Associated Press)

"Kalaii needs to step up, he’s one of the best athletes on our football team," Dimel said. "He has a 38-inch vertical, a 10-foot broad jump, he’s explosive, he needs to put all of that into action and become a good football player. He's working his tail off to do that."

As Dimel hinted, what all of those players have is someone to aim at in Hotchkins, who is still around in a graduate assistant capacity.

“Being behind guys like AJ Hotchkins and Alvin Jones definitely taught me intensity, taught me how to practice, taught me the little things I need to get better on," Griffin said. “I have to keep working, get better every single day but it definitely feels good to be able to show what I can do.”

A junior college transfer two years ago, Griffin has steadily worked his way up to the first team.

Tupou was there almost instantly, but now has to reach another level.

“Having an all-conference linebacker like (Hotchkins), you have some big shoes to fill, but having a year under my belt, I feel more confident," Tupou said. "Playing in this defense for a year under (defensive coordinator Mike) Cox, I feel like I’ll be able to fill his shoes."

"One thing we have more of this year is depth. We brought in a lot of JUCO guys who can be role players, they are good additions. Jayson Van Hook is back, too. We are more confident with a year under our belt with the new staff, that makes us feel better."

"Now I have some numbers to go off of, some film I can watch of myself and build off," Tupou said. "I know what I have to improve on and how to correct it."

There's also plenty of film on Van Hook, but it's two years old. He was a scout team star last season, so in that sense there wasn't a lot of rust when he stepped back onto the first team this past spring.

“I’m so excited to be out there able to play the game I love," Van Hook said. "It’s been a while, but I’m ready, I’ve been preparing ever since I wasn’t able to play. I’m ready for the opportunity.

"Last year I learned a lot even though I was on the sidelines. Coach Cox has a great defensive mind, I learned so many things from him and now I'm ready to show it all.”

All of the linebackers are ready to show that they can maintain the high bar set from a year ago.

Bret Bloomquist may be reached at 546-6359; bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @bretbloomquist on Twitter.